Library Assistant (3 posts)

Location: Bodleian Humanities Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, OX2 6AH

Hours: Part-time (2 posts)/ Variable hours (1 post)

Contract type: Permanent

About the role

The Bodleian Humanities Library is seeking enthusiastic Library Assistants to join its evening and weekend team. You will provide a welcoming service to readers and visitors, support admissions and enquiries, assist users in accessing library collections and electronic resources, and help maintain a safe and welcoming study environment.

You will undertake a range of frontline reader services duties, including issuing and returning materials, supporting room bookings and reservations, assisting with library systems and IT equipment, and helping with stock management activities such as shelving, retrieving and transporting library materials. You may occasionally work at other Humanities library locations as required.

This role requires lifting and carrying books, moving totes (up to 15kg). Procedures are in place to minimise manual handling through the use of trolleys, dollies and other means. Kick stools and small ladders are used to aid shelving.

These are three permanent work patterns available:

Post 1 - 12 hours per week / 0.3288 FTE: Wednesdays 17.00-21.15 and Saturdays 08.50-17.10 (including 40-minute unpaid lunchbreak)

Post 2 - 4.25 hours per week / 0.1164 FTE: Sundays 17.00-21.15

Post 3 - Variable hours

Please indicate your post preference on the supporting evidence form.

About You

You will be educated to GCSE level or equivalent and have excellent communication and customer service skills. You will be comfortable working with members of the public, using standard IT applications, and carrying out routine tasks accurately. You will be reliable, organised, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Previous experience in a library or customer-facing environment would be advantageous.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies.

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. Your supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Tom Halvarsson Deputy Librarian-in-Charge, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role (tom.halvarsson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Monday 22 June 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 and Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

Advert information